Igniter bushing



Sept. 8, 1942. J HL'CQX .IGNITER BUSHING Filed July 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Joseph h. Co x.

WITNESSES: 1/7 44 ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1942. r J cox 2,295,386

IGNITER BUSHING Filed July 12, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR I Joseph hf Cox.

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UETE IGNITER BUSHING Joseph H. Cox, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application July 12, 1940, Serial No. 345,084

Claims.

My invention relates to a vapor electric device and particularly to a lead-in connection for the make-alive electrodes of vapor electric valves.

Considerable difiiculty has been experienced in securing the proper location of the make-alive electrodes in respect to the mercury surface in vapor electric devices. According to my invention, the make-alive electrode is mounted by means of a flexible diaphragm sealed in vacuumtight relation to the container of the valve and means provided for flexing the diaphragm to shift the location of the make-alive with respect to the cathode surface.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an adjustable mounting for a make-alive electrode.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a suitable vacuum-tight seal for the entrance bushing of a make-alive electrode.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section of a vapor electric valve showing my improved make-alive connection.

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional View of an entrance bushing referring to my invention; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing in detail the construction of the adjusting screws.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention of a vapor electric device comprises a suitable container I having a mercury cathode 2 and a cooperating anode 3 therein. If desired, the anode 3 may be protected by a suitable shield 4. A make-alive electrode 5 is mounted in an opening 6 in the side of the container I which is preferably provided by welding a tubular sleeve 1 into the side of the container I, said sleeve 1 having a flange 8 adjacent the outer end thereof. The flange 8 is provided with a mounting ring 9 for receiving the bushing presently to be described.

The entrance bushing comprises a tubular supporting member I0 to the outer end of which is secured preferably by projection welding an annular flexible diaphragm ll, preferably of a metal, such as Kovar, to which a glass seal may be readily attached. Usually a hub I2 is interposed between the supporting sleeve 10 and the diaphragm H in order to facilitate making the weld and to add a proper bearing surface on the diaphragm ll.

Adjacent the inner end of the supporting sleeve l0 a suitable insulating bushing 13 is provided for spacing the lead-in conductor i l from contact with the metal sleeve I0. The insulator I3 is, in turn, provided with shielding members l5 and Hi to prevent the bridging of the insulator It by material sputtered into or onto the lead-in or insulating member. Preferably the shields l5 and I6 form a labyrinth disposed in two spaced-apart annular members, one being spaced from the lead-in conductor and secured to the inner end of the sleeve and the other being secured in any suitable manner to the lead-in conductor. The outer end of the lead-in bushing is composed of a cap-like metallic member I? preferably welded to the lead-in conductor l4 and being joined in insulating relation to the flexible diaphragm H by means of a glass seal l8.

In order to protect the glass seal 58 and to provide a control member for the lead-in bushing, a guide sleeve I9 is secured to the exterior of the flexible diaphragm ll preferably by means of a hub in spaced relation to the lead-in conductor I l and the glass seal l8 therefor.

A connection 2| is applied to the outer end ll of the lead-in conductor [4 in any desired manner preferably by welding or brazing to the external end ll of the lead-in conductor M.

In order to secure the flexible diaphragm H in vacuum-tight relation to the flange 8, the flange 8 is provided with suitable grooves 22 in which endless rings 23 of suitable deformable metal are placed. The mounting ring 9 is placed on a seat 24 on the flange 8 after which the diaphragm II is placed in position and pressed into firm contact with the deformable rings 23 by means of a cap 25 preferably secured to the flange 8 by means of bolts or screws 26. The ring 9 not only positions the support 10 but reenforces the diaphragm against excessive distortion by the atmospheric pressure.

To provide the adjusting mechanism for the lead-in bushing, the cap 25 is provided with lugs or projections 21, in which setscrews 28 are placed which make contact with pivot blocks 29 on the guide sleeve l 9. The make-alive electrode 5 can then be adjusted with respect to the oathode surface by changing the position of the setscrews 28.

If desired, the external end of the bushing may be closed by a suitable insulating member 30 to prevent mechanical damage by accidental contact with the protruding connection 2| to the lead-in member [4.

While, for purposes of illustration, I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An adjustable mounting for carrying a leadin connection for a make-alive electrode through an opening in a metal container comprising a flange about the opening, a flexible metal diaphragm mounted in vacuum-tight relation to said flange, a reenforcing ring for said diaphragm, a hub welded to said diaphragm, a tubular supporting member rigidly connected to said hub, a lead-in rod extending through said supporting member and said diaphragm, a makealive electrode mounted on said rod, a glass seal between said rod and said diaphragm, an insu- I lating bushing for holding said rod in spaced relation to said supporting member, a shield for said insulating bushing, a second hub secured to said diaphragm, a tubular guide secured to said second hub and screws contacting said guide member for adjusting the position of the makealive electrode.

2. A vapor electric device comprising a container having an opening therein, a liquid cathode in said container, a make-alive electrode having a tip portion immersed in said cathode, a

lead-in rod supporting the make-alive electrode,

said rod extending through the opening in the container, a flexible metallic diaphragm sealed in vacuum-tight relation to said opening, a tubular support secured to said diaphragm, the tubular support being spaced from said rod, an insulating bushing between said support and said rod,

shield members for said insulating bushing, a vacuum-tight insulating seal between said diaphragm and said rod, a guide member secured to said diaphragm and adjusting means cooperating with said guide member for controlling the amount of immersion of said make-alive electrode in said cathode.

3. A lead-in bushing for adjustably passing the lead-in connection of a make-alive electrode through an opening in a container comprising a flexible diaphragm sealed to the container, a supporting member connected to said diaphragm, a lead-in rod extending through said diaphragm, a make-alive electrode mounted on said rod, an insulated bearing between said rod and said supporting member, a vacuum-tight seal between said rod and said diaphragm, a guide member secured to said diaphragm and adjusting means cooperating With said guide member.

4. A lead-in bushing for passing a make-alive lead-in through an opening in the container of an electric valve comprising a flexible diaphragm sealed to the container, a supporting member connected to said diaphragm, a lead-in rod extending through said diaphragm, a make-alive electrode carried by said rod, an insulated bearing between said rod and said supporting member, a protective shield for said rod, a Vacuumtight seal between said rod and said diaphragm, a guide member secured to said diaphragm and adjusting means cooperating with said guide member for controlling the position of the makealive electrode.

5. A lead-in bushing for the make-alive electrode of a Vapor electric device having an opening for insertion of the lead-in comprising a leadin member, a make-alive electrode supported thereby, a flange connected to the vapor electric device about the opening, a reenforcing ring seated on the flange, a flexible diaphragm mounted adjacent said reenforcing ring, means for sealing said diaphragm in vacuum-tight relation to said flange, a supporting member rigidly secured to said diaphragm, an insulating member maintaining said lead-in in spaced relation from said supporting member, a guide member rigidly secured to said diaphragm and means for adjusting the guide member to control the position of the make-alive electrode in said vapor electrode device.

JOSEPH H. COX. 

